Hamstead’s back with new models

Hamstead Soundworks, which burst onto the UK scene in 2014 with stylish new amps designed by former radar and avionics engineer Peter Hamstead, is back with an upgraded 20 watt Artist 20+ RT and the brand-new 60 watt Artist 60+RT, both available as separate heads or in a 1×12” combo format.

Hamstead’s MK3 Artist 20+RT is a single channel, class A/B guitar amplifier, based on the company’s original 20 Watt model launched in 2014 which earned Hamstead extremely positive reviews in the press and some useful exposure with artists.

The MK3 features a number of refinements, whilst maintaining the core character of the original amp. Central to this is Hamstead’s brand-new Output Power selection, offering selectable 20, 7, or 2 watt outputs, ‘…without compromising tone’.

The Artist 60+RT is a single channel, class A/B guitar amplifier that blends the original Hamstead Artist pre-amp stage with a new fixed bias, twin EL34 output stage. ‘This new design takes the sonic concept of the Artist 20+RT MK3 to the next level within power, dynamic range, versatility and clean headroom, whilst retaining all the essential characteristics that the Artist Series amplifiers are renowned for,’ the maker says.

The Artist 20+RT MK3 and the Artist 60+RT both share the same brushed stainless steel control panels with black ‘easy read’ chicken head control knobs and are available in the classic Hamstead cream covering, or optional black.

Essential controls are kept to a minimum, comprising: Gain, Bass, Treble and Master Volume, with Depth/Tone and Depth/Speed rotaries for Hamstead’s own Signature Reverb & Tremolo circuits. Both switchable via the front panel, or via the included 4-way Quad footswitch – now fitted with OptoKick footswitches by The GigRig ‘…for silent and reliable switching’.